Full Breakdown
Chiefs Trade OT Wanya Morris to Falcons in Late-Round Pick Swap
6/12/2026, 5:17:36 AM
Trade Details
The Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons completed a player-for-draft-pick exchange on Thursday. Kansas City sent offensive tackle Wanya Morris and a 2027 seventh-round selection to Atlanta; the Falcons returned a 2027 sixth-round pick. The deal was first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and confirmed by NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The trade is pending a physical examination.
Background & Context
Morris entered the NFL as the No. 92 overall pick in the 2023 third round after playing college football at Tennessee and Oklahoma. As a rookie he appeared in 14 games (four starts) and contributed on special teams during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVII victory. In 2024 he started 11 of 17 regular-season games, primarily at left tackle, and recorded a 1-yard touchdown reception from Patrick Mahomes in Week 2. A season-ending knee injury on the first snap of a Week 14 game in 2025 limited him to a single start that year.
The Chiefs granted Morris permission to explore trade options after he fell on the depth chart behind players such as Joe Thuney and undrafted rookie Esa Pole. Atlanta, meanwhile, lost veteran right tackle Kaleb McGary to retirement and placed swing tackle Storm Norton on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. The Falcons signed former Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor to a one-year, $5 million contract but have not seen him in recent OTAs. Morris joins a tackle group that includes Jake Matthews, Jawaan Taylor, Michael Jerrell and the newly acquired Morris.
Key Figures & Groups
- Wanya Morris – 25-year-old offensive tackle, former Chiefs third-round pick.
- Kansas City Chiefs – Managed by GM Brett Veach; gave Morris trade permission.
- Atlanta Falcons – GM Ian Cunningham; seeking depth at right tackle.
- Jeremy Fowler – ESPN reporter who broke the trade news.
- Jordan Schultz – NFL insider who detailed the draft-pick swap.
- Seth Walder – ESPN analyst providing performance metrics.
- Mike Kadlick – Sports Illustrated writer covering Morris’s desire for playing time.
- Josh Simmons – Chiefs left tackle quoted on his training-room status.
Data & Statistics
- Games started for Kansas City: 16 (11 in 2024, 1 in 2025).
- Total snaps played for Chiefs: 1,085.
- Career pass-block win rate: 89.3 %; run-block win rate: 73.5 % (both slightly below starter average).
- Draft-pick exchange: Chiefs receive a 2027 sixth-rounder; Falcons receive a 2027 seventh-rounder plus Morris.
Official Statements & Responses
The Chiefs publicly allowed Morris to seek a trade after his reduced role, and Morris confirmed the move on Instagram. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the transaction, noting that “Morris, who started 16 games for Chiefs, gives Atlanta much-needed tackle help.” Jordan Schultz clarified the exact pick swap, stating the Chiefs are receiving a sixth-round pick while sending a seventh-rounder. The trade remains subject to a physical examination before finalization.
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts graded the deal as a modest win for Atlanta (B+ from Seth Walder) and a modest loss for Kansas City (B-). Concerns focus on Atlanta’s right-tackle depth: despite acquiring Morris, the position remains unsettled, with Jawaan Taylor’s OTA absence and Storm Norton’s PUP status. Critics note that the Falcons moved down only one draft round for a player who has not secured a consistent starting role, while the Chiefs relinquished a depth piece that could be valuable if injuries recur.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree on the pick swap, but no official comment from the Falcons’ front office has been released, leaving Morris’s projected role (starter vs. primary backup) unclear. Contract details beyond the existing rookie deal are not disclosed, and the physical-exam outcome remains pending.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Trade: The Kansas City Chiefs are dealing OT Wanya Morris to the Atlanta Falcons, per sources.” — Jeremy Fowler, ESPN reporter
- “Sources: The Chiefs are trading OT Wanya Morris and a 7th-round pick in 2027 to the Falcons for a 6th-round pick in 2027,” — Jordan Schultz, NFL insider
- “His numbers have been solid when he's on the field, though. Morris has a career 89.3% pass block win rate and 73.5% run block win rate at tackle, which are both a shade below average for a starter.” — Seth Walder, ESPN analyst
- “I’m not in the training room, I can actually get on the field,” — Josh Simmons, Chiefs left tackle
What’s Next
Atlanta’s training camp will feature a competition between Morris and Jawaan Taylor for the right-tackle spot, with the outcome influencing protection for left-handed quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa. Kansas City will rely on its existing tackle depth, while monitoring Morris’s health status post-physical. Both clubs aim to solidify their offensive lines ahead of the 2026 season.
